Nurses - K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital

Structural Empowerment
A Magnet Moment
“I have been a team member at Ocean Medical Center since 1990 and there
are countless special moments that I could look back on. The community and
the health care organization have changed for the better as the image of nursing
has effectively influenced the system in providing excellent services to the
patients and community.
Being an Oncology nurse in an outpatient unit, I have witnessed how nursing
practice has progressed and advanced in both technology and in the delivery of
quality care. There is professionalism, advocacy, and responsibility shown in the
care of patients by competent nurses and in return, countless thanks, letters of
appreciation, and excellent surveys are received from patients and families.
Messalina M. Dy, R.N., BSN, OCN
Ocean Medical Center, Outpatient Oncology
Working in a Magnet hospital gives oneself confidence, respect, and trust and as
always, I am giving my best as an Oncology nurse. When I touch the hearts of my
patients and families through my care, love, and unending support on a daily basis,
these are some special moments for me. No words can express when you do your
very best every day and always work to the fullest. It is priceless. It is Magnet.”
Meridian Has a Lot to OFFER to
Our Nursing Students
Meridian Health has been on the forefront of supporting staff in
individual goal achievement over the years. One program that
has been particularly effective has been the Meridian Health
OFFER Program. Developed in 2001, the OFFER Program has
been successful in encouraging non-nursing staff to enter
nursing, and several federal grants were acquired to help
support this endeavor. The acronym, OFFER, identifies the
components of this innovative program: O: Ongoing support
(Retaining employment with full-time benefits); F: Financial
Assistance (Tuition reimbursement at full-time rate and
scholarships); F: Flexible Scheduling (Work 24 hours on
weekends and receive full-time pay); E: Educational counseling
and tutoring through Meridian Health resources; and R: R.N.
Mentoring. In 2003, within two years of launching the OFFER
program, Meridian received a $740,257 Health Resources
Services Administration (HRSA) Career Ladder grant to further
support the program. This grant was renewed for an
additional $800,000 in 2007.
Since the program’s inception, 138 employees have graduated
from nursing programs. A particular achievement is that of
having more than 90 percent of OFFER participants pass the
NCLEX-RN, as almost 40 percent of these participants were
from minority or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.
Ninety percent have remained to complete the two-year work
commitment that is part of the OFFER contract, with 80 percent
of these nurses staying beyond their contractual commitment.
Many of the original OFFER Program graduates continue to
work at Meridian Health today and have gone on to achieve
advanced education, national certification, and clinical scholar
status in the Meridian Health C.A.R.E. Program. Although
vacancy rates have dramatically decreased at Meridian, the
program continues to be offered and was recently expanded to
include students enrolled in allied health programs.